The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ondo State branch, has described the shortage of pharmacists in Ondo State, as an unpleasant development for the health sector in the state. The PSN appealed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, to recruit more pharmacists into the various primary health care facilities across the state.

 

The society stated this during the commemoration of the 2019 World Pharmacists Day, held in Akure recently. The programme was themed, Safe and effective medicines for all.The Ondo State Chairman of the PSN, Dr. Abiodun Aiyeku, said the shortage of pharmacists in the state had affected patients in rural communities.

He said, “In almost all the ratings done by the World Health Organisation, Nigeria has always ranked about 184 out 191 in the global rating. One of the rationale for such outing has to do with the low numbers of professionals, especially in the rural areas because most of the professionals want to be in the city while the burden of diseases is more concentrated in the rural areas.

 

“So, we are asking for more employment and they should be conditioned to move to the rural areas where they will serve the people. This will help to improve the health statistics of Nigeria at the global rating.

 

On the disparity between pharmacists and doctors in the area of welfare package, the PSN Chairman maintained that it was only in Nigeria that such development still existed, stressing that there was a need for the government to address the problem.